BUSY AGENDA KEEPS AGOURA MAN YOUNG.Byline: Victoria Giraud Ed DeSure doesn't believe in retirement. Sure, he tried it 10 years ago after the financial institution he founded in the 1960s, Mercury Savings and Loan savings and loan n. a banking and lending institution, chartered either by a state or the Federal government. Savings and loans only make loans secured by real property from deposits, upon which they pay interest slightly higher than that paid by most banks. , closed - but only briefly. "I spent five weeks retired, but I couldn't stand it. I needed a challenge," he says. DeSure, who will celebrate his 90th birthday Thursday, has been community development director of Charter Pacific Bank in Agoura Hills for the past seven years. He spends his days getting nonprofit organizations involved with the bank's Community Service Bonus Program. At last count, an active schedule juggling 28 organizations including Masonic lodges, Shriners, the Red Cross and Pierce College In 2006 the Library won a national Excellence award. Academics Pierce College offers associate's degrees, mainly in the arts and sciences. There are also certificate programs in early childhood education, social services, dental hygienist, and others. was keeping DeSure busy - "Keeps me young," he says. DeSure and his wife, Rose, who have been married 37 years, live in North Ranch, enjoying the fruits of a productive life. But they both are adventurous enough that 18 years ago they volunteered for the Peace Corps and served for nearly two years in Botswana, a landlocked country A landlocked country is commonly defined as one enclosed or nearly enclosed by land.[1][2][3][4] As of 2007, there are 43 landlocked countries in the world. in south central Africa. The DeSures signed up after meeting a couple who had served in South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . "They seemed so happy at this party that I decided to go down and join," DeSure recalled. "We both loved it. My wife is a terrific partner; she never complained about the hardships." At age 72, DeSure became the coordinator of the Serowe Brigades Development Trust, a company operating a farm, print shop, dress manufacturing plant and rug business as well as 24 other cottage industries. Among his many other responsibilities, DeSure supervised a vocational trade school for about 1,800 boys and girls boys and girls mercurialisannua. ages 7 to 17, and Rose DeSure helped the girls with textiles and tapestries. Life was simple. The California couple lived initially in a small hut with no running water and an outhouse in a village of about 200. Upon awakening on his first morning in Africa, DeSure paid a visit to the outhouse. Upon exiting, he received welcoming applause from about 150 local villagers. "They wanted to make sure they saw me the first morning I got there," DeSure said, smiling as he remembered the scene. DeSure's office had a thatched thatch n. 1. Plant stalks or foliage, such as reeds or palm fronds, used for roofing. 2. Something, such as a thick growth of hair on the head, that resembles thatch. 3. Dead turf, as on a lawn. tr.v. roof and a cow-dung floor and sat 15 kilometers from the hut he called home. The couple stayed in top condition from all the walking. Life in the African bush included close encounters with a number of wild animals WILD ANIMALS. Animals in a state of nature; animals ferae naturae. Vide Animals; Ferae naturae. , with wild dogs "Wild Dogs" were a band featuring current Journey drummer Deen Castronovo and Matthew T McCourt (aka Dr Mastermind). The band went through several lineup changes that included at least 2 singers, 2 guitarists and 3 bassists in its history. among the most dangerous. Once domesticated do·mes·ti·cate tr.v. do·mes·ti·cat·ed, do·mes·ti·cat·ing, do·mes·ti·cates 1. To cause to feel comfortable at home; make domestic. 2. To adopt or make fit for domestic use or life. 3. a. , these dogs had been left behind by game hunters and had turned wild to survive. One late night the DeSures, along with several others, were waiting for a long-delayed train in an unprotected bush area. "We were surrounded by dozens of dogs. They kept circling. We got tree branches and started screaming. They eventually left and luckily didn't bother us, because they weren't hungry," DeSure recalled. Looking back, DeSure remembers a 13-year-old boy in his school who worked tanning leather and making shoes. The boy couldn't talk, and the other children would have nothing to do with him. "I made a point to help him. Little by little I got him to talk. It took eight months, but I got him to say 'hello.' " DeSure particularly enjoys working with children. "I've always worked with young people; it gives me a great deal of pleasure. I've been awarded plaques from three different presidents: Nixon, Johnson and Herbert Hoover. The DeSures have two daughters, two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren. The family has planned a special cruise to Mexico to celebrate his 90th birthday. DeSure's immensely pleased that his grandchildren GRANDCHILDREN, domestic relations. The children of one's children. Sometimes these may claim bequests given in a will to children, though in general they can make no such claim. 6 Co. 16. and great-grandchildren who live in Switzerland are coming all the way to California to celebrate with him. DeSure confesses that he's living well these days. "I like the idea of working seven minutes from home, living five minutes from the cemetery, and three minutes "Three Minutes" is the 46th episode of Lost. It is the twenty-second episode of the second season. The episode was directed by Stephen Williams, and written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. It first aired on May 17, 2006 on ABC. from my country club. I got it whipped," he says with a chuckle. CAPTION(S): Photo (1--color) Ed DeSure, who will turn 90 this week, chats with teller Hella Austin at the Agoura Hills bank where he works in community development. (2--color) Ed DeSure is on the job at Charter Pacific Bank where he deals with nonprofit community service groups. Tina Gerson/Daily News |
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